Katrina and Hurricanes

I can't believe how fast summer is flying by. It seems as though it just began and it is half over. I know Alanna and Fay probably think time isn't moving fast enough (they are pregnant) trust me it is flying. We are almost in Mid-July and Hurricane Prescaredness starts for me in August and ends in November. My granddaughter's birth does have me looking forward to October though.

I read a poem (?) about Hurricane Katrina that I thought was funny, and not much about Hurricanes is funny so I'll put this here very light-heartedly.

'Twas the Night Before Katrina (cajun style)

'Twas de night before Katrina, when all tru da state

Not a gas pump was pumpin',
Not a store open late

All da plywood was hung,

on de windows wit care,
Knowing dat a hurricane,

Soon would be dere.
Da chilren were ready wit deir flashlight in hand
While rain bands from da hurricane covered over our lan
And Mom wit her Mag-lite,

and me wit my cap
Has jus filled da battub for flushing our ____...
When out on de lawn, there arose such a clatter
I sprang from da closet to see what was de matter
The trees on da terrace, and de neighbor's roof torn,
We feared we'd be dyin' in dis terrible storm.

Wit a little wind gus, so lively and quick,
I membered quite clearly our walls was not brick
More rapid than Eagles, her courses they changed!

And she whistled and wafted and surged all the same.

Off shingles!

Off sidings!

Off rooftops!

Off power!

Down trees!

Down fences!

Down trailers!

Down towers!

On da street of New Orleans,

she continued to maul,
Screaming Blow away! Blow away! Blow away all!

As da wind ripped and tossed da debris tru de sky,
I peeked out the shutters at the cars floatin' by.

So go to the attic my family did do,

With a portable radio and some batteries too.

And den in a twinkling, I heard on da set,
The end was not coming for a few hours yet!

As I calmed down da kids and was turning around
Tru de window it came with a huge crashing sound

A tree branch it was all covered in soot
De wind blew it smack-dab on top of my foot!

A bundle of twigs now lay in a stack

And my Livin' Room looked like it was under attack.
De wind how it howled,

de storm very scary,
Myself and my family were all too unwary.

Da dangers of hurricanes are serious ya know,
Dey are taken for granted as Betsy did show.
Wit da winds dying down and da danger beneath,
I noticed my tool shed was missing its sheath
So I grabbed my last tarp, and nailed it on down,
Den I got in my car and drove into town.
Da traffic was awful and stores had no ice,
My 5-gallon cooler would have to suffice
Generators was scarce, not one left in town,

Dere was trees on the roads and power lines down.

FEMA was ready wit people to work,

Electrical companies came in from New York.

I sprang to da car, and gave my family a whistle,
Den away we all went like a Tomahawk missile!
You could hear us exclaim as we drove out of sight,
"The heck wit dis place, Texas seem just right!"
(Author unknown)

Al and I went to Texas for the storm and stayed there about a week. Everyone we encountered from shopping to Doctors to Drugstores to Churches were all very kind and helpful. Our daughter in Florida said that her state was showing it's hospitality to stranded evacuees also. We also received alot of help and supplies from family and friends who lived elsewhere during the storm. You know who you are....Thank You. God used all of you to supply our needs when it was impossible for us to purchase our own supplies.

You lean on me and I'll lean on you, and we'll be okay.
~ Dave Matthews

To those of you who are keeping up with our church, please be in prayer this Sunday July 15, as we will be electing a Pastor Search Committee. I know that God already knows who is coming to pastor our church. This committee is a very important part of God's plan. Please pray as we select them and continue to pray for our church and staff as we go through this transitional time.

My Mom started her latest round of Chemo Monday. I spoke with her a little while ago and she is doing well. She has not had nausea yet but her joints are hurting. They had to give her something (shots in the stomach), because her white blood cell count drops with the chemo (this is expected). She said it hurts to walk (because of whatever they give her for white blood cells) but she will be fine. She has a wonderful "fighting" attitude right now. She is willing to go through this fire to come out on the other side. She has 2 more rounds of Chemo scheduled. She can only take it 1 day every 3 weeks. It is some tough stuff.

My Sunshine went to her allergist this week and has NO food allergies. Thank you Jesus! I am so excited for her. Her parents have been keeping her off of peanuts in case they have been partially responsible for her eczema but they are NOT!!! My girl had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich today!!!!

Starshine will be turning 4 on the 25 of this month so we are getting ready for a party!! Knights of the Round Table is his theme. I know we will all have a great time. I think he likes his "friends" more than presents. I must admit that doesn't come from my side of the family. We love the presents.

My Puddin' is growing right before our eyes. She loves my glasses and sunglasses. I didn't relize they were flavored until she began puuting them in her mouth. She is also becoming very adept at taking the earring out of my right ear and dropping it somewhere. Such Talent.

I don't know if Fay's baby has a name yet but Alanna's does not. I am still calling her Lilac, just because I need to call her something. I can't wait until she gets in the mix with the others.